Arch support



Aug. 17 1926.

s. DARLING ARCH ,SUPPORT Filed Feb. '7,

IN VEN TOR.

TTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL DARLING, or onions-o, rumors.

ARCH SUPPORT.

Application filed February 7, 1925. Serial No. 7,624.

This invention relates to improvements in arch supports.

It is one of the objects of the present in vention to provide an adjustable arch support.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arch support having an adjustable and removable spring suppcrting member, said member being adjustable in order tosupport the desired portion of the arch, and removable to be replaced by a member having more or less tens-ion as the foot changes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination arch support having means for supporting both the key-stone bone of the longitudinal arch and the metatarsal arch. V

A further object of the invention is to provide an arch support which can be per manently made in a shoe or which can be formed to fit perfectly and comfortably in any shoe. r

A further object of the invention is to provide an arch support which is formed as a part ofthe inner sole of a shoe and becomes a permanent and fixed part of the shoe.

A further object of the invention is to provide arch support constructed to relieve pressure on the foot of the wearer.-

A further object of the invention is to provide an arch support which is of very simple construction, is inexpensive to manufa ture. is strong and durable, and is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists of the improved arch support and its parts andcombinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. I is a plan view of the insole of a shoe showing the improved arch support formed as an integral part thereof; 7

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line of Fig. 1;

Fig. l is a plan view of the arch support detached from the insole;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the support covering equipped with a pocket for receiving the metatarsal arch support;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the adjustable and removable supporting member; and

Flg. 7 is a perspective view of themetatarsal arch support.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will be seen that the numeral 10 indicates the insole of a shoe, to the upper surface of which the improved arch support 11 is riveted or otherwise secured.

As'shown in Fig. 2, the arch support is formed of a plurality of layers, the main layer or plate 12 being an elongated metallic plate formed of aluminum, brass, copper or steel, and corresponding in size and shape to the rear half portion of the insole to which it is attached. Said member 12 is further molded to fit the arch of the shoe. li-iveted to the under surface of the plate 12 1s a base plate 13 formed of any desired metal and shaped to conform with the shape of the plate 12, and interposed between said members 12. and 13', and projecting outwardly from one side thereof, is a leather strip 14. molded to conform to the shape of the inside arch of a foot, said leather strip l i being held firmly in position by the rivets used in securing members 12 and 13 together.

Secured to the upper surface of the main layer or plate 12 near the outer edge thereof, is an elongated member 15 formed preferably of spring steel, and said member is held in place by rivets or pins 16 engaging elongated-apertures 17, whereby said member 15 it free to be flexed or bent slightly. An arch supporting member 18 formed of yielding or spring metal is positioned so that its side edge portion is engaged by the member 15*, being removably and adjustably held in place thereby. Said member 18. is formed with apertures 19 arranged to register with a pluralityof spaced apertures 20 in the main layer 12, and pins 21 are passed through the registering apertures to hold the arch supporting member 18 in any adjusted position. Obviously, this construction permits longitudinal adjustments of the arch supporting member, and if desired, the pins 21 may be formed integrally with the member 18. The arch supporting member is shaped to correspond with the shape of the mid portion of the main layer 12, and is molded to support an arch. In connection with the arch support, a plurality of supporting members 18' may be used and can be interchanged.

It is desirable that they be of different heights and sizes, so that the support oifered by the arch support can be varied as the foot changes or becomes gradually corrected.

A leather flap or covering 22 is provided for the entire arch support to cover the same and to give it a finished appearance. Said flap is shaped as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and is secured to the arch support by suitable means along the outer edge only. This arrangement permits lifting one side of the flap to afford access to the adjustable member 18 whereby the same may be shifted, removed or replaced. 1

The forward end portion of the flap 22 has secured to its upper surface a pocket member 23 divided by inwardly converging lines of stitching 24: into a plurality of outwardly diverging pockets 25. A metatarsal arch supporting member 26 is further provided and is arranged for engagement with any of the pockets of the. member 23. Said metatarsal support is shown in detail in Fig. 7, and comprises a top leather layer or pad 27, having its mid-portion held in a rounded or raised form by means of a transverse curved steel 28 riveted to the under surface thereof. An arched spring steel 29 has one end portion secured to the layer or pad 27 and is longitudinally extending, the other end of the steel being free to permit the same to flex when pressure is applied to the pad. An attaching member 30 underlies the curved steel 29 and is secured thereto at one end portion. In use, the free end of the member 30 is inserted in any of the pockets 25 whereby the metatarsal arch support is attached to the main arch support. The diverging pockets 25 permit various positions of attachment, so that the metatarsal arch support can be adjusted to suit the requirements of the wearers foot.

In shoes made with the improved arch support as an integral part thereof, the support is secured to the inner-sole as previously indicated and then the inner-sole is attached to the last and the shoes are made in the usual way. lVhen the last is pulled out of the shoe, the leather covering or flap 22 can be lifted up and the steel supporting member 18 inserted in any adjusted position.

Obviously, the same procedure is applicable to a shoe already made, in which it is desired to use an arch support. The arch support is attached to the inner-sole and then shaped by the last.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the improved arch support possesses many advantages. The adjustability of the supporting member is important, in that the support 18 may be positioned exactly Wherever required by any foot. As the foot changes, a higher or lower support may be substituted. Also, the invention combines a support for the key-stone bone of the longitudinal arch and for the metatarsal arch. The metatarsal arch support is adjustable to permit it being correctly positioned and also may be entirely removed if it is not necessary. Moreover, 'the improved arch support is of very simple and novel construction, and is well adapted for the purposes described.

VVhat I claim as my invention is:

-1. An arch support, comprising a metallic main layer inserted in a shoe and shaped to correspond with the normal shape of an arch, an elongated member secured at its end portions to the upper surface of the main layer, and an arch supporting member formed of spring metal and having its side edge portion engaged between the main layer and the elongated member, the supporting member being adjustable with respect to the main layer.

2. A multi-layered arch support, ar-

ranged for attachment to the inner sole of a shoe and comprising a base plate, an elongated main layer thereabove, a side flap interposed between v the inner side edges of these two members and projecting outwardly. and upwardly, an elongated member yieldingly carried by theouter side edge portion of the upper surface of the main layer, and a movable arch supporting member having its outer side edge portion interposed between said main layer and the elongated member.

3. An arch support, comprising an elongated main layer shaped tocorrespond with the instep and heel portions of a foot, a base plate secured thereto and underlying the mid portion thereof, a molded leatherflap interposed between the innerside edges of the main layer and the base plate and projecting outwa'rdlyandupwardly, an elongated strip 'of spring metal yieldingly secured to the outer side edge portion of the upper surface of the main layer, an arched supporting plate formed of yieldable metal overlying'the mid portion of said main layer and having its outer side edge portion removably engaged by said elongated strip,

there being meansin and on the supporting plate and the main layer for securing the supportingplate in anyv adjusted position, and a leather flap covering the entire, arch support and secured thereto, one sideof the same bein'g liftable to afford access to the supporting plate.

4; In an arch support, a multi-layered body portion, a raised yieldable mid-supporting portion held between layers of the body portion, a yieldingly supported metatarsal arch supporting pad and means for removably attaching said pad to thebody portion in any desired longitudinal, lateral or angular position of adjustment. I i 1 5. An arch support. comprising an elongated main layer shaped to correspond with the instep and heel portions of a foot,

- a base plate secured thereto and underlying the mid-portion thereof, a 'molded leather flap interposed between the inner side edges of the main layer and the base plate and projecting outwardly and up Wardly, an elongated strip of spring metal yieldingly secured to the outer side edge portion of the upper surface of the main layer, an arched supporting plate formed of yieldable metal over-lying the mid portion of said main layer and having its outer side edge portion engaged by said elongated strip, there being means in and on the supporting plate and the main layer for detachably securing the supporting plate in any adjusted position, a leather covering for the entire arch support and secured thereto, one side of the same being liftable to afford access to the supporting plate, a

pocket flap secured to the forward end portion of said leather covering, a yieldingly supported metatarsal arch supporting pad, I

and attaching means carried thereby and insertible in said pocket flap to hold said pad in any position of adjustment, the entire arch support being attachable to the inner sole of a shoe.

6. A multi-layered arch support arranged for attachment to the inner sole of a shoe and comprising a shaped main layer, an elongated strip yieldingly carried by a side edge portion of the upper surface of the a main layer, and a supporting member having its side edge portion removably interposed between said main layer and the yieldable strip.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

, SAMUEL DARLING. 

